If you’re looking for things to do in Teesside in October 2025, look no further than this list. From amazing events, to things for foodies, to ideas for kids, there’s something everyone in this list. Take a look at the list below for everything you need to know.
Jump to: events to look out for | markets | theatre and live music | craft workshops | food events | at the museum | ideas for national days
Events to look out for
Crust’s Pizza & Prosecco Party – Thurs 2nd – Grab your girls or guys and join Crust for the ultimate night of bottomless bubbles, all you can eat pizza, old school music and laughter! £35pp for unlimited Prosecco and unlimited pizza.
Hartlepool Folk Festival – Fri 3rd to Sun 5th – Grab your tickets and head to Hartlepool for a weekend of folk music and workshops on the coast. There’s also a free family festival (no ticket needed) with performances and food.
Scream Factory – Fri 3rd to Fri 31st – This year marks 13 terrifying years of Scream Factory and to celebrate, they’re unleashing 13 scare zones like you’ve never seen before. With 4 brand new zones added to the lineup, this year’s experience is packed with more fear, more chaos, and more screams.
Middlesbrough Art Week – until Sat 4th – Middlesbrough Art Week is the North East’s leading annual contemporary art festival, with a free public programme of art exhibitions, workshops, talks and interactive installations.
Tees Cottage Pumping Station Open Weekend – Sat 4th and Sun 5th – The volunteers will be running the Beam Engine, Gas Engine, Blacksmith Shop, Small Engines and Boilers. The cottage cafe will be supplying some savoury and sweet food & drinks. There’ll also be lots of classic cars and vehicles to see.
Stockton On Tee-Hee’s Comedy Festival at The Georgian Theatre – Sat 11th – Three FANTASTIC Work In Progress preview shows from three brilliant acts. One night – one venue! Featuring Lou Conran, Tez Ilyas and The Halls of Ridiculous.
Twisterella Festival – Sat 11th – Twisterella is Middlesbrough’s award-winning multi-venue metropolitan music festival. Centred around Teesside University campus heart, Twisterella utilises venues on Linthorpe Road and Southfield Road, along with pop-up sessions in some of the town’s coolest bars in nearby Baker Street and Bedford Street. It’s the perfect festival to hear the next big things in music.
Counterfest – Sat 18th – The ultimate tribute to tributes is back for its 2025 edition! Counterfest 2025 features five stages full of homages to music icons including top tributes to ABBA, Led Zepplin, Nirvana, The Stone Roses and loads more.
Oktoberfest at Whinstone View – Sat 18th – Let’s raise a beer to October with Whinstone View’s take on Oktoberfest! Beer & bratwurst in the barn… What more could you want? There’ll be live music from Back Chat Brass too. Dirndl and lederhosen optional but definitely welcome!
The Grand Quiz at The Social Room – Sun 19th – Think you’ve got the brains, the banter, and the bottle? On Sunday 19th October, The Social Room is throwing open its doors for what promises to be one of the biggest quiz nights the region has ever seen with a cool £1,000 cash prize for the winning team.
Teesside Restaurant Week – Mon 20th to Sun 26th – Explore the region through your tastebuds with exclusive menus at a number of Teesside restaurants from Monday 20th to Sunday 26th October.
ARC’s Festival of Light and Colour – Thurs 23rd – The Festival of Light and Colour is Stockton’s annual celebration to mark Diwali. Navrang Arts return to celebrate with a range of incredible performances from their talented team. Alongside the performance, there will be free food served by the local temple.
Diwali in Middlesbrough – Sat 25th – Get ready for an unforgettable day of music, dance, food, and lights on Saturday 25th October, 12pm to 6pm at Centre Square, Middlesbrough – and the best part? It’s FREE for everyone!
Darlington Restaurant Week – Sat 25th to Fri 31st – If you’re after something delicious to do, why not get a slice of the action at Darlington Restaurant Week? This biannual event will be back from Saturday 25 to Friday 31 October giving you the opportunity to explore Darlington through your tastebuds.
Ink on the Tees Tattoo Convention at Teesside Uni SU – Sun 26th – This is the first Ink on the Tees Tattoo Convention and they’re starting with a bang! Expect live tattooing, tattoo competitions, shopping stalls, a chilli eating contest and so much more.
Markets
Stokesley Farmers Market – Sat 4th – Stokesley High Street, TS9 5DG. From 9am to 2pm.
Orange Pip Market – Sat 4th – Baker and Bedford Street, Middlesbrough, TS1. From 12pm to 6pm.
Saltburn Vintage Fair – Sat 4th – Saltburn Arts Community Hall, Albion Terrace, TS12 1JW. From 10am to 4pm. £1 entry on the door.
Elmwood Artisan Market at Middleton St George Community Centre – Sun 5th – Station Road, Middleton St George, Darlington, DL2 1JG. From 10:30am to 2pm.
Sedgefield Market – Sun 5th – Rectory Row, TS21 2AE. From 8:30am to 12pm. From 12pm to 4pm.
Misfit Market at Hopetown Darlington – Sun 5th – McNay Street, DL3 6SW. From 12pm to 4pm.
Hartlepool Farmers Market – Sat 11th – National Museum of the Royal Navy, TS24 0XZ. From 9am to 2pm.
Norton Green Market – Sat 11th – The Old Vicarage, The Green, TS20 1EQ. From 9am to 2pm.
Saltburn Farmers Market – Sat 11th – Station Square, TS12 1AQ. From 9am to 2pm.
Crathorne Hall Market – Sun 12th – Yarm, TS15 0AR. From 9am to 2pm.
Blackwell Grange Hotel Moon Market – Mon 13th – Grange Road, Darlington, DL3 8QH. From 6pm to 9pm.
Stokesley Northern Makers Market – Sat 18th – Stokesley High Street, TS9 5DG. From 9am to 2pm.
Wynyard Farmers Market – Sun 19th – Billingham, TS22 5NF. From 9am to 4pm.
Hardwick Hall Moon Market – Sun 19th – Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, TS21 2EH. From 11am to 3pm. Click the link to book tickets.
Hartlepool Maritime Market – Sat 25th – National Museum of the Royal Navy, TS24 0XZ. From 9am to 2:30pm.
Stewart Park Food Market – Sun 26th – Ladgate Lane, TS7 8AR. From 9am to 2pm.
Autumn Pop Up Shop at Whinstone View – Sun 26th – Whinstone View, Great Ayton, Middlesbrough TS9. From 12pm to 4pm.
Halloween Lights Out Market at Darlington Market – Fri 31st – Darlington Indoor Market, DL1 5PL. From 2pm to 8pm.
Theatre & live music
Little Women at Darlington Hippodrome – until Sat 4th – Step into the world of sisterhood, courage, ambition, as the March sisters – tomboy Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth, and spoilt Amy – navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds of love and family. Inspired by author Louisa May Alcott’s own journey into womanhood, Little Women is as relevant today as it was at the time of its first release, proving that women can be bold, persistent, self-assured, and the heroes of their own story.
James May: Explorers, The Age of Discovery at Stockton Globe – Tues 7th – From Ice Age migrations to space travel, the stories of famous, infamous and unknown explorers will come to life in a theatrical style,presented by British television presenter and award-winning journalist James May. Audiences will embark on an awe-inspiring journey through time and space. They will discover the stories of those who risked (and sometimes gave) everything, driven by insatiable curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for discovery, pushing back the boundaries of the unexplored regions of the world, and now, the universe.
NE Thing Goes Mixed Genre Night at NE Volume Music Bar – Thurs 9th – Featuring The Mojitos, Freddie Morrison, Alfie Hopwood and Orton.
The ELO Show at Princess Alexandra Auditorium Yarm – Sat 11th – The World’s Greatest tribute to Jeff Lynne and E.L.O are back on the road in 2025 with a stunning new stage production, featuring a band of amazing musicians complimented by a female string section and playing hit after hit from ELO’s vast back catalogue.
Iain Stirling: Relevant at Middlesbrough Town Hall – Tues 14th – The BAFTA-winning comedian, ‘national sensation’ (Evening Standard) and ‘extremely funny’ (Daily Telegraph) Iain Stirling, is bringing his intuitive razor-sharp humour back on tour with a brand new stand-up show for 2024-25. As the iconic voice of Love Island, star and writer of sitcom Buffering on ITV, and with his own stand-up special, Failing Upwards, on Prime Video, Iain hits the road once more with a brand new hour (of jokes) in his biggest tour to date!
Youth Sector at KU Stockton – Fri 17th – Hailing from Brighton, indie rock quintet Youth Sector expertly balance astute political observations with campy indie romps. Inspired by the art school greats DEVO and TalkingHeads, their music is a coiled spring of urgency and unpredictable energy that offers a sense of catharsis for the confusion of modern adult life.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay at St. Mary’s Cathedral – Sat 18th – Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Middlesbrough. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay at Saint Mary’s RC Cathedral under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Come From Away at Darlington Hippodrome – Wed 22nd to Sat 1st – Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.
Elvana at Middlesbrough Town Hall – Fri 24th – From the bowels of Disgraceland, Rock & Roll icons of the afterlife are raised from the dead! Rock & Roll meets Grunge as Elvis fronts Nirvana and gives the band the front man it’s been missing since ’94. Elvana tear through Nirvana’s catalogue whilst splicing in grunged up sections of the king of rock & rolls finest moments, culminating in a whopper mash up of overdrive & old school Rockabilly. It smells like cheeseburgers and teen spirit, daddy-o!
Tomorrow Street at Middlesbrough Town Hall – Sat 25th and Tues 28th – Step into a High Street with a difference as Middlesbrough Town Hall’s Fire Station is transformed into Tomorrow Street – an imaginary avenue full of playful shops and inspiring spaces for families to explore. Visit the florist and colour in a flower to take home for a loved one, draw a self-portrait for the gallery, design a favourite meal in the café and so much more! Drop in between 10am and 3pm.
La Voix at Stockton Globe – Sun 26th – Are you ready for an unforgettable night of entertainment that will have you laughing, dancing, and singing along? Look no further than the spectacular all live Singing and live Band and hilarious Comedy Show featuring the one and only La Voix! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness the best show in town! Treat yourself and your friends to an evening of pure joy and entertainment that you’ll be talking about for days to come.
Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at Princess Alexandra Auditorium Yarm – Thurs 30th to Sun 2nd – Get ready for the ultimate rock experience as Bat Out Of Hell roars onto the big screen this
Halloween! Bat Out Of Hell The Musical promises a spectacle that will leave you breathless! This heart-pounding experience, with a powerhouse eight-piece live band on stage, delivers a new production with sprawling multi-level platforms to transport you from Raven’s bedroom to the underground world of the lost in a visual feast that pushes the boundaries of live theatre.
Craft workshops
Make Your Own Ceramic Ghost with Sea View Pottery – Sat 4th – Shape your own ghostly figure/ figures from clay – tall, short, silly, spooky – your choice! Add texture, expressions, or even tiny accessories (witch hats? Pumpkins? Spell books? Cauldron?). After it’s been bisque-fired (Approx. 3 weeks), you can either pick it up to paint at home or come back for a second session to glaze them. (An additional £17.50).
Flores by Sarah Jayne Autumn Wreath Workshop – Sun 5th – Join Flores by Sarah Jayne at Blondie Bakery, Norton for a cosy autumnal wreath workshop. £48pp – includes all materials, a glass of fizz and some tasty blondies. Learn how to create your own beautiful wreath full of seasonal charm – the perfect way to welcome autumn into your home.
Ghost Garland Workshop with Once Upon A Dream NE – Mon 6th – Pop along to this Home Ed craft group, meet other home educators and make something completely unique! At this workshop, we will be making ghost garlands, just in time to decorate for Halloween! Free tea/coffee/juice will be available for parents and children and the workshop will run for 2.5 hours.
Starry Night Painting with Palette & Pop at Bike Base Great Ayton – Thurs 9th – Paint in the style of Vincent’s iconic starry starry night painting whilst under the stars of the North Yorkshire moors national park. Enjoy a Prosecco and cheese board whilst you sip and paint the night away.
Ceramic Mug Make-a-Long at Creative Village CIC – Wed 22nd – In this workshop, you will be guided step by step to make your own ceramic mug from stoneware clay. You will learn techniques including slab building, cross hatching to attach a funky handle and painting with underglazes. Director Lucy will make-a-long with you from rolling out your clay to building your mug before leaving you to paint your own design using underglazes.
Stained Glass Christmas Decoration Workshop at From Loft To Loved – Sat 25th – Learn how to cut and shape stained glass with Anne to make gorgeous Christmas decorations.
Food events
An Evening of South African Wines at Fourteen Drops Market Hall – Fri 3rd – This tasting includes a selection of wines and the option to add a meat and cheese board on the night!
Sit & Sip at The Cheese & Wine Shop – Fri 3rd and Sat 4th – Join The Cheese & Wine Shop in Darlington for sensational wine tasting and nibbles.
Antipasto and Italian Reds Wine Tasting – Thurs 9th – Join Koze for a wine tasting evening on Thursday 9th October between 7-9.30pm. Five Italian red wines with small antipasto pairings.
The Truffled Hog Supper Club – Fri 24th – Expect one of the eaterie’s favourite cocktails on arrival, six delicious dishes, designed and loved by the team, all served to share. All you have to do is gather your friends, your other half or your family and get yourself comfy.
Soosh Sushi School at Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn – Sat 25th – Try your hand at making your very own sushi. Led by expert James, you’ll be shown how to do various rolls with a plethora of ingredients. And the best bit is you get to take absolutely everything you make away with you.
At the museum
Halloween VR Experience at Dorman Museum – Sat 4th to Thurs 31st – At this spooktacular family Halloween event, help D.A.S.H. fight the evil FLASH and get back to safety! You’ll encounter ghastly ghouls, petrifying pumpkins and sinister scarecrows, so keep your eyes peeled – you’ll need your wits about you on this spine-tingling journey.
Titans of Steam at Hopetown Darlington – until Sun 5th – As part of this year’s S&DR200 celebrations, Hopetown Darlington will be front and centre of the festival as the home of the modern railway plays host to a free-to-visit thunderous gathering of iconic steam legends. Standing proudly side by side, each locomotive is a roaring monument to Britain’s engineering might.
Scarecrow Trail at Preston Park – Sat 25th to Sun 2nd – Each scarecrow has been handmade by the brilliant volunteers and placed around the museum for you to discover. It’s a fun adventure for all ages!
Trick or Treat on Spooky Street at Preston Park – Mon 27th – Come along in your favourite costume and explore the Victorian Street after hours. Each shop has a surprise waiting inside… will it be a trick or a treat? Each child will receive a sweet treat, as well as some friendly surprises along the way! There will be options available for children with dietary requirements, to ensure everyone is catered for. Then dance at the Monster Ball, where you can show off your best moves, and do a spooky craft!
Big Science Spooktacular Show at Hopetown Darlington – Tues 28th – Big Science are bringing their spooktacular amazing show back to Hopetown Darlington, with a haunting Halloween twist! Expect to be blown away with demonstrations, experiments, and more. The perfect way to introduce kids to science through interactive examples and hands-on inspection.
Halloween Iron Dyeing Workshop at Land Of Iron – Tues 28th – Learn how to print a card with a design of your choice using Cleveland Fibre Arts special potion made from iron ore pigment! Using a paste made from glue, gum arabic and locally sourced iron ore powder you can create spooky Halloween cards using natural dyes!
Halloween Crafts at Kirkleatham Museum – Tues 28th and Thurs 30th – Head on down to Kirkleatham Museum this Halloween for spooky arts and crafts. Items priced between £1.50 – £3.50.
Spooky Book Club at Dorman Museum – Thurs 30th – We’ll be reading a ghoulishly good Halloween tale, followed by fun activities and a DIY craft inspired by the story. Come dressed in your spookiest attire and get ready to have a frightfully good time! Participants will receive a free copy of a book as well as premium craft to make and take home.
Halloween Family Fun Day at Hopetown Darlington – Fri 31st – Hopetown is hosting its very first Family Fun Run. Brought to us by Darlington Trail, you can register at https://race-nation.co.uk/register/hopetown-fun-runs. There will be costume competitions with petrifying prizes! The categories are – 0 – 5, 6 – 17, grown-ups, and dogs! There’ll be face-painting, live music, a spooky juggling illusionist, the return of the FitLab X Spooktown dance-along, and much more!
The Monster Hour Magic Show at Dorman Museum – Fri 31st – A thrilling, spellbinding magic show packed with dazzling illusions, jaw-dropping tricks, and laugh-out-loud surprises. The marvellous travelling magician is coming to town this Halloween, even the cheekiest, most mischievous monsters won’t be able to resist the magic! Will the magician outwit the mischievous monsters? Or will the monsters create their own magical mayhem?
Ideas for national days
Vegetarian Day on Wed 1st – try dining at a veggie or vegan spot, like The Waiting Room, Alkaline Kitchen on Sunday.
World Animal Day on Sat 4th – walk an alpaca at Alpaca Alpaca, check out the wildlife in Butterfly World, or see some birds at Kirkleatham Owl Centre.
National Taco Day on Tues 7th – dine out on tacos at Casa Del Alma Darlington or Tacos Delos Muertos in Hartlepool.
World Mental Health Day on Fri 10th – take the time to do something that makes your head happy, whether that be reading a book, going for a walk or taking up a new hobby.
Bookshop Day on Sat 11th – shop at a local bookshop, like Back of Beyond in Sedgefield, DRAKE in Stockton or Book Corner in Saltburn.
International Animation Day on Tues 28th – watch your favourite animated movie!
This list will be kept up to date with any other events that I find for September 2025, so keep checking back!
